דְּבַח

דְּבַח

a sacrifice

Definition

The Aramaic noun דְּבַח (dᵉbach) refers specifically to a sacrifice, particularly a ritual offering presented to a deity. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezra 6:3, it denotes the official sacrifices decreed by King Cyrus to be offered at the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. The term carries the core idea of an animal or other offering given in a religious ceremony, emphasizing the act of slaughter and presentation. While used only once in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, its Hebrew cognate זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) is far more common and shares this central meaning of a slain offering.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in the Aramaic section of the book of Ezra. It appears in the official decree of King Cyrus recorded in Ezra 6:3, which authorizes the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple and stipulates that 'sacrifices' (דְּבַחִין, the plural form) be offered there. Its usage is entirely administrative and royal, embedded in a Persian imperial document that regulates the cultic worship of the Jewish people. This singular context highlights its formal, legal sense within a governmental edict concerning temple worship.

Etymology

דְּבַח is an Aramaic noun derived from the verbal root דְּבַח (dᵉbach, H1684), meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to sacrifice.' It is the direct Aramaic cognate of the more frequent Hebrew noun זֶבַח (zebach, H2077), which comes from the Hebrew verb זָבַח (zabach, H2076). The semantic development is straightforward, moving from the action of slaughtering (the verb) to the thing slaughtered as an offering (the noun). This root is common across Semitic languages for ritual sacrifice.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, this word connects to the vital biblical theme of sacrifice and worship. Its appearance in Cyrus's decree (Ezra 6:3) underscores God's sovereignty in moving a pagan king to re-establish the divinely ordained system of sacrifices, which pointed toward atonement, thanksgiving, and communion with God. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Ezra by highlighting the continuity of worship God intended after the exile, maintaining the sacrificial system that prefigured the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In its original Aramaic and Persian imperial context, דְּבַח refers to the formal, state-sanctioned animal sacrifices of the Jerusalem temple cult. The decree in Ezra 6:3 shows how ancient Near Eastern empires often funded and regulated the religious practices of subject peoples to maintain order and divine favor. The modern reader should note that 'sacrifice' here was not a private devotional act but a public, institutional practice central to national identity and authorized by the highest political power, reflecting the integration of religion and state in the ancient world. זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — The primary Hebrew synonym, used extensively for ritual sacrifices, especially peace offerings. מִנְחָה (minchah, H4503) — A grain offering, often presented alongside animal sacrifices. עֹלָה (olah, H5930) — The burnt offering, which was completely consumed on the altar.

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